Page 28 of Empowered By the Earl (Second Sons of London 3)

Chapter Nine

Louisa saw thelook in Owen’s eyes—and knew he was going to kiss her. She should have stopped him. He wasn’t for her. She surely wasn’t for him, rake that he was.

And yet, curiosity won out.

She quickly inhaled as his lips touched hers, brushing them ever so slowly, hypnotizing her, enthralling her, heating her blood. One hand came up and cradled her face tenderly, the other possessively curled around her, drawing her to him until her breasts brushed against his chest.

She had been kissed twice before and wondered how Owen would kiss her. This was the only reason she let him do so. She wanted to see if his might be different than the other times. Part of her wanted it to be no better than the other two so that she might stop thinking about him constantly.

The other part wanted his kiss to be wild and wicked and wonderful.

His thumb stroked her cheek as he nibbled on her bottom lip. The gesture caused sparks to shoot through her. She gasped and heard him chuckle. Slowly, he coaxed her mouth open and she opened for him, knowing he wanted to use his tongue. That’s what had occurred with her other two kisses. One had been fairly pleasant. The other had been revolting and Louisa had forcefully kneed the man in his groin, a move she had taught to both Tessa and Adalyn.

No kneeing would be necessary this time.

Owen’s tongue swept inside her mouth, stroking hers sensually. A delicious chill raced along her spine and she made a noise she had never heard herself utter before. She could feel his mouth smiling against hers as he pulled her closer, crushing her to him. His hand moved from her cheek to her nape, cradling it possessively, his thumb moving up and down it, bringing delicious tingles. Suddenly, the place between her legs sprang to life, throbbing strongly. She wanted to press it against him and thought that to be horribly wicked. In fact, she wanted him to touch it. The thought of his hand there made her face flame.

His fingers moved up into her hair and he tugged, pulling her head back, deepening the kiss. She moaned. He groaned. Again, he brought her even closer. Louisa felt she was practically inside his coat. She couldn’t possibly get any closer.

Unless there were no clothes between them and bare skin touched bare skin.

That thought caused her breath to hitch.

Owen broke the kiss, his lips moving to her throat, licking where her pulse pounded. She whimpered, clinging to him.

What was she doing?

Louisa pushed him back, trying to create some distance between them.

Her lips throbbed as much as the place between her legs. She saw those gorgeous chocolate eyes hot with desire.

For her.

She had never been confident in her appearance. While she thought her image pleasantly pleasing when she looked into the mirror, she knew she was no great beauty as Tessa and Adalyn were. Yet knowing this handsome earl desired her made Louisa feel empowered.

Swallowing hard, she again pushed against him. He didn’t budge.

“I thought we were to be friends,” she accused quietly.

“I thought so, too,” he said, looking a bit sheepish. “I don’t know, Louisa.”

“Well, I do. You have admitted to me that you are a rogue. I still feel you fairly honorable but you cannot go around kissing me like that.”

He smiled lazily at her. “It was nice, though, wasn’t it?”

“It was,” she said begrudgingly. “But you didn’t mean it. You aren’t interested in me. You know I want a husband. I am not one to play games, Owen. We shouldn’t be kissing.”

“Have you been kissed before?” he asked suddenly, throwing her off-guard.

“Yes. Why?”

“I just wondered. How did my kiss compare to the other? Or others?”

“It was... better than the other two. One I fairly enjoyed. One, I did not.”

“But mine?”

She shook her head, losing the battle to hide her smile. “Oh, it was very good, Owen, but you already knew that, didn’t you?”

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